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HOMEOPATHY & ASTHMA

The word ‘asthma’ comes from the Greek aazein, which means, ‘to exhale with open mouth; to gasp.’ It is this struggle for breath that is characteristic of the disorder.

The expression, asthma, was originally used in Homer’s Iliad. History suggests that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was the first physician to use the phrase in 450 BC.

WHAT IS ASTHMA

Asthma is a psychosomatic [mind-body] disorder — triggered as much by allergens [allergy-causing substances], as by difficult relationships and stress. It not only disrupts a family’s normal functioning, but it also upsets the affected individual’s belief in their own abilities.

What is important to understand is that asthma should not be considered a single disease. It does not have a uniform pattern of presentation.

WHAT RESEARCH SAYS

Asthma is often activated by irritation or infection of the respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal [tummy] upset, which is typically a result of late or irregular meals, hyperacidity [gas], faulty eating habits, dietetic carelessness, or junk-food.

Certain emotional factors, such as anxiety and emotional worries, may trigger sudden bouts of asthma. Research suggests that a constitutional tendency could trigger the disorder — this is supposedly related to desperate feelings of dependence.

A child’s asthmatic attacks, for example, could be a call for help, or a subconscious appeal to their mother for attention.

Research also confirms the occurrence of wheezing [continuous, coarse, whistling sound with breathing problems] in certain individuals following a short period of exercise.

It is no less evident that respiratory viruses can provoke bronchospasm [airway obstruction] in asthmatics too.

Age, likewise, is a significant influencing aspect — the first asthma attack reportedly develops before age 20. Some medical researchers also aver that asthma is not entirely hereditary, or familial; it is primarily influenced by weather and locational changes.

HOMEOPATHY: SAFE, EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR ASTHMA

Homeopathy does not treat asthma in isolation; it treats the patient of asthma according to specifics, or unique presentation of their condition. This is because no two asthmatic individuals present with the same symptoms.

In other words, homeopathy treats asthma on the basis of symptoms peculiar to the individual — what improves or worsens the condition in relation to time, posture, movement and rest.

In a clinical study, conducted in Europe, a group of asthma patients was treated for four months with either specific homeopathic medicines, or placebo [dummy pill]. They were assessed using peak flow rates to measure improvement. 97 per cent of subjects taking homeopathic remedies experienced significant progress, while only 12 per cent using a placebo showed improvement.

A study, published in Biomedical Therapy, reported that a group of people suffering from corticosteroid-dependant asthma were given either a placebo or a combination homeopathic formula, every 5-7 days. Using standard spirometry — a test that is used to assess how well your lungs work by measuring how much air you inhale, how much you exhale and how quickly you exhale — and, other tests to measure the response, the study found that the homeopathic combination product provided superior results in comparison to placebo.

SELF-HELP

Reduce dust and pollen in your household

During the pollen season, keep the windows closed; use the air-conditioner

Minimise dust by replacing carpets with tiled floor

Choose washable curtains and blinds

Vacuum clean upholstered furniture and mattresses regularly as well as your pet’s bedding

Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth during dusting, or when you go outdoors

Exercise or practice yoga in the open air — under specialist guidance, or supervision

Treat cold and flu at the drop of a sneeze

Most important. Deal with emergencies quickly, because some people with asthma who take their homeopathic medicine for asthma, and as prescribed, regularly, and who follow everything to avoid triggers, can have an occasional asthma attack.